French President Emmanuel Macron is searching for his fifth prime minister in less than two years after opposition parties combined to oust centre-right leader François Bayrou over his unpopular budget-cutting plans.
Bayrou’s nine-month tenure ended on Monday night when he lost a parliamentary confidence vote.
On Tuesday afternoon, he tendered his resignation to Macron, according to the government website, which added that Bayrou and his cabinet would remain in a caretaker role until a successor is appointed.
Whoever Macron names will face the daunting challenge of forging consensus in parliament to secure approval for next year’s budget. France is under mounting pressure to rein in a deficit nearly double the EU’s 3% limit, alongside a debt burden equal to 114% of GDP.
Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu has been floated as a possible successor, while Macron may also consider a centre-left figure or a technocrat. There are no rules dictating his choice or timing, though a government source indicated he could make the appointment as early as Tuesday.
A poll published by RTL on Tuesday found Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally (RN), was the most popular choice among the public, with 43% favouring him. RN leader Marine Le Pen and conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau both drew 36% support.
The RN has urged Macron to step down or call fresh parliamentary elections. Although Macron has dismissed the idea of resigning, surveys suggest most voters would welcome either option. His snap election last year left France with a fractured legislature that has made even basic governance difficult.
Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure told France Inter radio: “We need to claim power.”
Meanwhile, French businesses have voiced concern over the fallout of the political crisis.
“The government’s collapse compounds months of instability that have already eroded economic confidence,” said Maya Noël of tech lobby group France Digitale. “For the innovation sector, this instability has an immediate price: it hampers investment and hiring.”
The country is also bracing for “Block Everything” demonstrations on Wednesday, which have spread across social media in echoes of the 2018 Yellow Vest protests.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez told BFM TV that 80,000 officers would be deployed nationwide, warning of potential efforts to block major roads and stations, as well as the risk of violent unrest.
Labour unions have separately announced a day of strikes and protests for 18 September.
Pakistan is confident it can bring Iran to talks with the United States, a senior official said, citing “positive signals” from Tehran,...
Pope Leo arrived on Tuesday in Equatorial Guinea, led by the world’s longest-serving president, marking the final leg of a four-nation Africa...
NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte’s two-day visit to Türkiye ahead of the July NATO summit in the ...
Afghanistan’s power utility chief has held talks in Tajikistan with officials and contractors to speed up the CASA-1000 electricity project a...
A rare Israeli security statement warning of an alleged Iranian-linked plot targeting global sites, including a key Azerbaijani pipeline, has drawn...
Pakistan is confident it can bring Iran to talks with the United States, a senior official said, citing “positive signals” from Tehran, as JD Vance is reportedly set to visit Islamabad on Tuesday for peace talks, according to Axios.
A rare Israeli security statement warning of an alleged Iranian-linked plot targeting global sites, including a key Azerbaijani pipeline, has drawn renewed attention to regional security dynamics.
Britain’s government outlined plans on Tuesday (21 April) to reduce household energy bills by encouraging wind and solar producers to adopt long-term fixed contracts.
The architect of the modern K-pop boom, Bang Si-hyuk, is facing arrest by South Korean police over claims he illegally gained millions in an investor fraud scheme.
Iran accuses the United States of breaching a ceasefire after a commercial ship was seized in the Gulf of Oman, vowing retaliation, as Israel warns south Lebanon residents to avoid restricted areas.
Progessive Bulgaria, led by pro-Russian Eurosceptic Rumen Radev is on track to form Bulgaria’s next government, after official results showed a runaway victory for the coalition in the Balkan nation's parliamentary elections on Monday (20 April).
Pakistan is confident it can bring Iran to talks with the United States, a senior official said, citing “positive signals” from Tehran, as JD Vance is reportedly set to visit Islamabad on Tuesday for peace talks, according to Axios.
A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake has struck off Japan’s north-eastern coast, triggering urgent tsunami warnings with waves of up to 3 metres expected, prompting residents to seek immediate safety.
The Trump Organization, a real estate conglomerate owned by U.S. President Donald Trump and managed by his sons, has announced plans to build Georgia’s tallest building in the capital, Tbilisi. The project will mark the first Trump-branded development in the region.
Pope Leo arrived on Tuesday in Equatorial Guinea, led by the world’s longest-serving president, marking the final leg of a four-nation Africa tour during which he has issued sharp denunciations of despotism and inequality.
NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte’s two-day visit to Türkiye ahead of the July NATO summit in the capital city underscores Ankara’s growing strategic importance at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
Britain’s government outlined plans on Tuesday (21 April) to reduce household energy bills by encouraging wind and solar producers to adopt long-term fixed contracts.
The escalating conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel is fuelling what could become the most severe energy crisis the world has ever faced, according to the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA).
A Canadian woman has been shot dead and 13 others injured in a shooting at the Teotihuacan pyramids on Monday, one of Mexico’s most visited tourist attractions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment